The Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010) addresses the needs of a variety of producers and users of such statistics. While it is primarily a guide for statistical compilers, it is also a useful tool for governments and international organizations that use statistical information in connection with international negotiations on trade in services. Furthermore, it can aid enterprises and others that need to monitor developments in international services markets.

The revised manual provides a more detailed classification of services delivered through conventional trade between residents and non-residents than is contained in BPM6. This Extended Balance of Payments Services (EBOPS 2010) classification has been revised in line with existing statistical frameworks. The most significant change was the introduction of Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others and Maintenance and repair services, n.i.e. as two new components and the removal of Merchanting from Other business services . The Manual includes a treatment of local delivery of services through foreign commercial presence and takes a further step towards linking these two systems. The Manual provides clarifications on inward and outward FATS, and also describes the links between FATS and the international supply of services The Manual includes a new chapter discussing “modes of supply” described in GATS through which services can be delivered, and elaborates recommendations for a statistical treatment of these modes.

The Manual is currently available in electronic format only. The printed format will be available soon.

This first Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services
was prepared by the Interagency Task Force on Statistics of International Trade in Services
(TFSITS) authorised by the Statistical Commission of the United Nations
to meet the needs of a variety of producers and users of trade
data but in particular the needs of the General Agreement of Trade in Services (GATS). GATS categorises trade
in services according to four modes of supply - cross border,
consumption abroad, commercial presence and presence of natural
persons.

Accordingly the Manual extends the statistical definition of international
trade in services into new areas to reflect the four modes of
trade in services as defined by GATS, namely cross border, consumption
abroad, commercial presence and presence of natural persons. It
does this by building on and maintaining consistency with existing
frameworks including the IMF 5th Balance of Payments Manual (BPM5)
and the 1993 SNA.

Apart from consideration of modes of supply, the Manual
provides a more detailed classification of services delivered
through conventional trade between residents and non-residents
than is contained in BPM5, includes a treatment of local delivery
of services through a foreign commercial presence and takes a
first step towards linking these two systems. Links to existing
statistical frameworks are described and correspondences provided
from the classifications used in the manual (e.g. Extended Balance
of Payments Services classification, EBOPS, and the ISIC Categories
for Foreign Affiliates, ICFA) to the Central Product Classification
(CPC), version 1.0, the International Standard Industrial Classification
of Economic Activities (ISIC), Revision 3 and the GATS services
negotiating list.